Negotiable instrument clearing server and method

• US 20060080245A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bottomline Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bottomline Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Bahl, Vincent, Park, Gregory E.
• Application Number:
  US11/240,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080245A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

The present invention relates to a secure check clearing server. The check clearing server comprises a database for storing payment information associated with an issued check and a status indicator associated with the issued check. A clearing module receiving a clearing request message. The clearing request message includes payment information associated with a purported check. The payment information includes a core digital image of the purported check. The clearing module determines whether the purported check is unaltered and clearable and, if unaltered and clearable initiates clearing of the purported check. The purported check is determined to be unaltered if the payment information associated with the purported check matches the payment information associated with the issued check. The purported check is determined to be clearable if the issued check is not cleared or canceled.

Claims

1. A secure check clearing server comprising:

a database storing payment information associated with an issued check;

a clearing module for;

receiving a clearing request message, the clearing request message including payment information associated with a purported check, the payment information including a core digital image of the purported check; and

comparing payment information associated with the purported check to payment information associated with an issued check and determining that the purported check is unaltered if the payment information associated with the purported check matches the payment information associated with the issued check;

initiating clearing of the purported check if the purported check is unaltered.

2. The secure check clearing server of claim 1, further comprising:

a print format module for initiating clearing of a purported check by;

generating a print formatted object representing a substitute check, the substitute check comprising the core digital image and substitute check formatting, the print formatted object being in compliance with a print formatted object protocol associated with a remote print system to which the print formatted object is to be sent for printing; and

passing the print formatted object to the remote print system for printing of the substitute check at a location proximate to a clearing bank to which the substitute check is to be presented.

3. The secure check clearing server of claim 2, further comprising:

an electronic check clearing module for initiating clearing of a purported check by;

generating electronic check clearing data including the core digital image of the purported check, the electronic check clearing data being in compliance with an electronic check clearing protocol associated with the clearing bank; and

transferring the electronic check clearing data to the clearing bank.

4. The secure check clearing server of claim 3, further comprising a check conversion module for initiating an electronic payment in replacement of clearing the purported check.

5. The secure check clearing server of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic check clearing module for initiating clearing of a purported check by;

generating electronic check clearing data including the core digital image of the purported check, the electronic check clearing data being in compliance with an electronic check clearing protocol associated with the clearing bank; and

transferring the electronic check clearing data to the clearing bank.

6. The secure check clearing server of claim 1, wherein:

the database further stores a status indicator associated with the issued check;

the clearing module;

further determines that the purported check is clearable if the status indicator indicates that the check remains payable;

initiates clearing of the purported check if the purported check is both unaltered and clearable; and

updates the status indicator associated with the issued check to indicate that a purported check has been cleared to prevent the clearing module from subsequently determining that a duplicate check is clearable.

7. The secure check clearing server of claim 6, wherein the clearing module further returns an acknowledgment in response to the clearing request message, the acknowledgement indicating;

that the purported check is valid if the purported check is both unaltered and clearable; and

that the purported check is invalid if the purported check is altered or un-clearable.

8. The secure check clearing server of claim 7, further comprising:

a print format module for initiating clearing of a purported check by;

generating a print formatted object representing a substitute check, the substitute check comprising the core digital image and substitute check formatting, the print formatted object being in compliance with a print formatted object protocol associated with a remote print system to which the print formatted object is to be sent for printing; and

passing the print formatted object to the remote print system for printing of the substitute check at a location proximate to a clearing bank to which the substitute check is to be presented.

9. The secure check clearing server of claim 8, further comprising:

an electronic check clearing module for initiating clearing of a purported check by;

generating electronic check clearing data including the core digital image of the purported check, the electronic check clearing data being in compliance with an electronic check clearing protocol associated with the clearing bank; and

transferring the electronic check clearing data to the clearing bank.

10. The secure check clearing server of claim 9, further comprising a check conversion module for initiating an electronic payment in replacement of clearing the purported check.

11. The secure check clearing server of claim 7, further comprising:

an electronic check clearing module for initiating clearing of a purported check by;

generating electronic check clearing data including the core digital image of the purported check, the electronic check clearing data being in compliance with an electronic check clearing protocol associated with the clearing bank; and

transferring the electronic check clearing data to the clearing bank.

12. A method of initiating clearing of a purported check, the method comprising

receiving payment information associated with an issued check;

storing the payment information associated with the issued check in a database;

receiving a clearing request message, the clearing request message including payment information associated with a purported check, the payment information including a core digital image of the purported check; and

comparing payment information associated with the purported check to payment information associated with an issued check and determining that the purported check is unaltered if the payment information associated with the purported check matches the payment information associated with the issued check;

initiating clearing of the purported check if the purported check is unaltered.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein initiating clearing of the purported check comprises:

generating a print formatted object representing a substitute check, the substitute check comprising the core digital image and substitute check formatting, the print formatted object being in compliance with a print formatted object protocol associated with a remote print system to which the print formatted object is to be sent for printing; and

passing the print formatted object to the remote print system for printing of the substitute check at a location proximate to a clearing bank to which the substitute check is to be presented.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating clearing of the purported check comprises:

generating electronic check clearing data including the core digital image of the purported check, the electronic check clearing data being in compliance with an electronic check clearing protocol associated with the clearing bank; and

transferring the electronic check clearing data to the clearing bank.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating clearing of the purported check comprises initiating an electronic payment in replacement of clearing the purported check.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein initiating clearing of the purported check comprises:

generating electronic check clearing data including the core digital image of the purported check, the electronic check clearing data being in compliance with an electronic check clearing protocol associated with the clearing bank; and

transferring the electronic check clearing data to the clearing bank.

17. The method of claim 12:

further comprising;

storing a status indicator associated with the issued check in the database; and

determining that the purported check is clearable if the status indicator indicates that the check remains payable;

the step of initiating clearing of the purported check occurs only if the purported check is both unaltered and clearable; and

the method further includes updating the status indicator associated with the issued check to indicate that a purported check has been cleared to prevent the clearing module from subsequently determining that a duplicate check is clearable.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising returning an acknowledgment in response to the clearing request message, the acknowledgement;

including an indication that the purported check is valid if the purported check is both unaltered and clearable;

including an indication that the purported check is invalid if the purported check is altered or un-clearable.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein initiating clearing of the purported check comprises:

generating a print formatted object representing a substitute check, the substitute check comprising the core digital image and substitute check formatting, the print formatted object being in compliance with a print formatted object protocol associated with a remote print system to which the print formatted object is to be sent for printing; and

passing the print formatted object to the remote print system for printing of the substitute check at a location proximate to a clearing bank to which the substitute check is to be presented.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein initiating clearing of the purported check comprises:

generating electronic check clearing data including the core digital image of the purported check, the electronic check clearing data being in compliance with an electronic check clearing protocol associated with the clearing bank; and

transferring the electronic check clearing data to the clearing bank.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein initiating clearing of the purported check comprises initiating an electronic payment in replacement of clearing the purported check.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein initiating clearing of the purported check comprises:

generating electronic check clearing data including the core digital image of the purported check, the electronic check clearing data being in compliance with an electronic check clearing protocol associated with the clearing bank; and

transferring the electronic check clearing data to the clearing bank.